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| Kosovo: Ex-rebel commander Ramush Haradinaj set for election win | Kosovo: Ex-rebel commander Ramush Haradinaj set for election win |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former rebel commander wanted by Serbia for alleged war crimes is set to win Kosovo's parliamentary election, an exit poll suggests. | A former rebel commander wanted by Serbia for alleged war crimes is set to win Kosovo's parliamentary election, an exit poll suggests. |
| Ramush Haradinaj, a former prime minister, helms a coalition of parties that emerged from the liberation war. | |
| His alliance could win 40% of the vote, Klan Kosova TV's poll says. | His alliance could win 40% of the vote, Klan Kosova TV's poll says. |
| Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. It is recognised by the US and most EU countries, but not by Serbia or its ally Russia. | |
| Prime Minister Isa Mustafa's coalition, led by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), is set to get 27%. | Prime Minister Isa Mustafa's coalition, led by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), is set to get 27%. |
| Meanwhile, left-wing opposition party Vetevendosje (VV) is projected to get 30%. | Meanwhile, left-wing opposition party Vetevendosje (VV) is projected to get 30%. |
| Mr Mustafa called the snap election last month after his government lost a confidence vote. | Mr Mustafa called the snap election last month after his government lost a confidence vote. |
| A victory for Mr Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), would complicate relations with Serbia, which has issued an international arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes. | |
| Mr Haradinaj served as a commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army during the war with Serbia in 1998 and 1999. | Mr Haradinaj served as a commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army during the war with Serbia in 1998 and 1999. |
| He has been tried and acquitted twice at the UN tribunal at The Hague, although Serbia said it had further evidence involving civilian murders. | He has been tried and acquitted twice at the UN tribunal at The Hague, although Serbia said it had further evidence involving civilian murders. |
| Mr Haradinaj has consistently denied the allegations, and stepped down as prime minister after just 100 days in 2005 to face the charges. | |
| Serbia has repeatedly warned it will defend "every inch" of what it claims as its territory in neighbouring Kosovo. | Serbia has repeatedly warned it will defend "every inch" of what it claims as its territory in neighbouring Kosovo. |
| About 1.9 million Kosovars were registered to cast their ballots in the third vote since independence. Nearly half a million voters live abroad. | About 1.9 million Kosovars were registered to cast their ballots in the third vote since independence. Nearly half a million voters live abroad. |
| One of the top priorities for any new government will be to reduce unemployment, which is running at 30%, and lower tensions with Serbia, a pre-condition for both countries before they can join the European Union. | One of the top priorities for any new government will be to reduce unemployment, which is running at 30%, and lower tensions with Serbia, a pre-condition for both countries before they can join the European Union. |
| The West believes that the incorporation of Western Balkan countries in the EU is the most effective way of stabilising a region blighted by war throughout the 1990s. | The West believes that the incorporation of Western Balkan countries in the EU is the most effective way of stabilising a region blighted by war throughout the 1990s. |
| Kosovo has had a constant Nato peacekeeping force since 1999. | Kosovo has had a constant Nato peacekeeping force since 1999. |
| Kosovo and Serbia - key recent dates | Kosovo and Serbia - key recent dates |
| 1991 - Start of the violent break-up of Yugoslavia | 1991 - Start of the violent break-up of Yugoslavia |
| 1996 - Rebel Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) steps up attacks on Serbian authorities in Kosovo - met with a Serbian crackdown | 1996 - Rebel Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) steps up attacks on Serbian authorities in Kosovo - met with a Serbian crackdown |
| 1999 - Nato bombs Serbian targets - Yugoslav and Serbian forces respond with ethnic cleansing against Kosovo Albanians but withdraw from Kosovo after a peace agreement | 1999 - Nato bombs Serbian targets - Yugoslav and Serbian forces respond with ethnic cleansing against Kosovo Albanians but withdraw from Kosovo after a peace agreement |
| 2008 - Kosovo unilaterally declares independence. | 2008 - Kosovo unilaterally declares independence. |